Presentation short abstract

Wildfires in rural Spain strain psychosocial care providers who support responders and communities. Ongoing interviews reveal intense emotional labor, gaps in psychosocial support, and structural inequalities, underscoring the social dimensions of emotional care in wildfire governance.

Presentation long abstract

Wildfires in Mediterranean-type climates are increasing in frequency and severity, disproportionately affecting rural communities. While much research has examined fire regimes and territorial management, the psychosocial impacts and the work of those providing emotional support during emergencies remain underexplored. This work-in-progress study analyses the experiences of psychosocial care providers responding to wildfires in rural Spain, territories marked by depopulation, limited infrastructure, and contested land-use. Through qualitative interviews and analysis of institutional protocols, we explore how these professionals, who assist the operational sector and the broader public, navigate the social and political dimensions of fire. Our findings highlight the emotional labor of providers, the gaps in psychosocial care, and the structural inequalities that shape both the delivery of support and the experiences of affected communities. By situating emotional care within broader debates on rural marginalization, territorial governance, and the political ecology of fire, this study emphasizes the need for integrated approaches that consider social and spatial inequalities alongside conventional wildfire management. The insights generated offer implications for enhancing the well-being of communities in high-fire-risk Mediterranean landscapes and for designing wildfire governance strategies that acknowledge the central role of psychosocial support in disaster contexts.